Toy parachute



June 21, 1955 B BQ CLARK 2,711,296 I froY PARACHUTE Filed Oct. 24, 1952INVEN TOR.

United States Patent O l 2,711,296 TOY PARACHUTE Betty B. Clark, Helena,kMont. Application October 24, 1952, Serial No. 316,750 1 Claim. (Cl.244-148) My invention relates to childrens toys or amusement devices,and provides a toy parachute and pack therefor.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of a device of thetype above described which has the appearance of a full-sized operativeparachute, and which has a harness which may be gotten into and out ofby even a child. A

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device ofthe class described which has a pack which may be readily opened by achild so as to drop out therefrom, under the action of gravity, the toychute or canopy.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device ofthe class described which is inexpensive to produce, and is light inweight but durable.

The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed specification, appended claim and attacheddrawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters indicate like partsthroughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of my novel structure with the chutein unpacked condition, and some parts bej ing broken away;

Fig. 2 is a view in rear elevation of my device, the same being packedand harnessed to a wearer;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in front elevation; and

Fig. 4 is a view in rear plan on the same scale as Fig. 3 but showingthe method of opening the pack, some parts being broken away.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, the numeral 1indicates in its entirety a pack including a rectangular back element 2,side flaps 3 and 4 stitched, or otherwise secured, to the back element2, and upper and lower end flaps 5 and 6 respectively. Elements 2, 3, 4,5 and 6 may be formed from any flexible sheet material, such as canvasor plastic. As shown, the` side flaps 3 and 4 are substantially the sameshape and size as the j back element 2. On the other hand, the upper andlower end aps 5 and 6 are substantially the same width as the backelement 2, but have a depth substantially less than one-half the depthof the back element Z, for a purpose n the upper and lower edges 14 and15. Snap-fastenerelel Y ment 12, preferably the female element, islocated adjacent the inner edge 16 of the side flap 4, also preferablymidway between the upper and lower edge portions 17 and 18 respectivelythereof. A rip cord 19 has one end secured to the outer surface 20 ofthe side ap 3 closely adjacent the snap-fastener element ll.

As a harness for the above described structure, I provide a belt orgirth strap 21, which, at its intermediate portion, is rigidly stitched,or otherwise secured, to the bottom edge portion of back element 2, asindicated at 2?.. Portion 22 thus becomes the rearportion of the belt 2lwhile the free ends 23 and 24 become the front ends of the belt 21.Portions 23 and Z4 are likewise providedwith cooperating snap fastenerelements 2S and 26respectively. A pair of elongated shoulder straps 27have one of their ends secured by stitching, or the like, to the frontportions Patented June 21, 1955 of the belt 21, one on each side of thesnap-fastener eleice ments 25 and 26, as indicated by the numeral 28.TheV opposite end portions of the shoulder straps 27 are crossed, as at29, and are stitched` to the back element 2, and have their extremelower ends secured to the rear portion of the belt 21, as indicated at30.V

To pack the chute 10 and shroud lines 7 within theV paclcl, they arefolded, preferably neatly so as to conform substantially to the shape ofthe back element 2. When so folded and placed upon the back element 2,and upper and lower end flaps 5 and 6 are folded thereover, and finallythe sidefflaps 3 Vand 4 are laid. over the folded canopy 10 and the endflaps 5 and 6, the snap-fastener ele-1k ments 11 and 12 snap together.The juvenile wearer then places his arms through the'loop provided bythe shoulder straps 27, and the girth strap or belt 21 is snappedtogether at his front. The structurel then appears as shown in Fig. 2.

It will be noted that the rip cord 19 is adapted to extend over theshoulder ofthe wearer, where it dangles on his chest, and may beprovided with a ring, not` shown, if desired. When the-rip cord 19 ispulled, the snap fas teners 11 and 12 separate, andthe side` ap 3 ispulled Ylaterally away from frictional engagement with the Vunderlyingside flap 4. Thereafter, the short end flap 6 is freed from frictionalengagement with the side flap 4 and' drops vertically downwardly to theposition of Fig. 1. The

lupper end iiap 5, because of its extreme lack of height,V

also exerts a minimum ofk frictional engagement upon the folded canopy10 and the shroudlines 7, whereupony these elements are permitted todropdownwardly, almost."

Because of the f ease of packing and of releasing fthe chute 10 andshroudv immediately, tothe position of Fig. l.

lines 7 from theback element-2, these steps may be the above objects,and while I have shown apreferred embodiment thereof, it should beobvious that same is capable of modification without departure from thescope of the appended claim.

What I claim is: Y

A toy parachute `and pack erally rectangular back formingelernent.formed .from

exible sheet material, side and upper and lower end flaps on said backelement, shroud lines connected to the intermediate portion of said backelement, atoy canopy on thefree ends of said shroud lines, a girth'straprigidly connected to the lower end portion of said back element, a pairofV shoulder straps connected in spaced relation at their `forward endstothe front portions of said girth strap and at .rear end portions tosaid back element and said girth strap,rmeans on thefront end of saidgirth strap intermediate said shoulder straps for detachably securingthe opposite ends of said girthY strap together, cooperatingsnap-fastener means adjacent the free edge portion the back element,said upper and lower end Yflaps being substantially the samewidth as theback element but less than one-half the height thereof.

References Cited in the tile of this patent` UNITED STATES PATENTS n1,774,513 Henman sept. 2, 1930 2,352,036 Tauty June 20, 1944 2,394,295Dreyfus ee Feb. 5," 1946 therefor includng,la gen- I

